NATURE KEEPS ME SANE

I remember a beautiful walk at Morro Bay State Beach.

And...the sun has been out for two days and I've gotten out to walk and enjoy it ...have taken way too many photos that will never get posted because there are so many but I have some going up the hwy the other day that I will post - it had just snowed and it was so beautiful.

The sun is out now and I'm wasting time - I need to get a move on soon!

I've no doubt posted these before but it makes me feel good to see them so ...

I love the story of Jonathon Livingston Seagull and his breaking of his limitations. 

FOG FOR DAYS - RAIN FOR DAYS ...AGAIN FOG - AND SNOW COMING SOON

Spring when will you bloom? At least here where I live. 

So here are the last pelican photos I'll post.  I still want to get back to the lake where they are breeding to see if they are still there and to find what we saw in researching them,  a place called Pelican Lake which is nearby somewhat to this lake.

So on this foggy day while I'm still waiting for a break in the fog I'll just post some more pics.  I look back at photos i took last year during this March week ....from the 13th to whatever ...and the weather was gorgeous, sunny skies, blooming trees and this year it's totally different.  But then nothing is ever the same - every moment is a new one. 

 and some of the houses we drove by when we were leaving the lake with all the gulls on it.

SPRING VALLEY LAKE, CA

This area is in the high desert of Apple Valley/Victorville area.    I'm too use to mountains and lots of green trees so the desert looks especially hot to me.

I now know where all the gulls go when they are not around our lake.  I was amazed (the same day I was at the other lake where the pelicans were) to see this many here at Spring Valley Lake.

And adding a photo of a couple beautiful geese.

A FEW MORE PELICANS ....NOT PENGUINS....

Today's pelican pics ..

I really enjoyed watching these guys and I love the first pic - it looks like he is already setting the stage for a little mating to go on - ...he's bold and beautiful and I'm guessing the one he has his wing around might be a female ...or male... who knows but it is mating season for them or then again ...I just caught him stretching which he probably is doing.

The structures below I think are some kind of high desert museum but I have never seen any access open to go into them 

THIS PAGE WILL SOON BE OVER RUN WITH PELICANS - LOTS OF THEM.

So yesterday i went to a lake in the high desert near Apple Valley/Hesparia area.  I hadn't been there in a long time and it's one of those lakes that for me, i don't go to often because I'm more use to the lushness of the forest in the mountain lakes near me so I find it less appealing at this lake.  But, the thing is, there are more ducks, seagulls and other shore birds here than I usually see at our lakes in the mountains.

I was so surprised (thanks Mike for the suggestion to go there yesterday)...  to see about 30 pelicans at the lake.  I took a WHOLE lot of photos and it was so exciting to just observe them in action.  There were two cormorants that appeared to be showing off to the pelicans trying to get their attention and one of the gulls was loudly voicing his disdain about the cormorant.

There are lots more pelican pics in the line up that i'll be posting.  I did learn that BOTH the male and female pelicans develop a bump on their beak during mating season.  Up until i just checked google this morning, I thought it was only the males that formed that bump on the beak.   In March and April the birds travel to their breeding grounds so I guess this is either a stop over for them on their way to somewhere else or this area is a breeding ground area.  I will be making a few more trips over the next month just to see if they are still around.

It was a great day and I enjoyed so much the warmer temps in the high desert .

IT'S SO OFFENSIVE

Says the pigeon - who is sometimes referred to as a flying rat.  They don't like it much and they beckon one to look closer at the iridescent feathers around their neck and their beautiful eyes rimmed in red eyeliner.  They are quite a sight to see up close.   They are just hungry and always waiting for opportunities to eat what we reject.

SOMETIMES YOU ARE HERE
AT OTHER TIMES OVER THERE
ALWAYS SEARCHING FOOD

RIVERSIDE BOTANICAL GARDENS

We visited this place a few days ago on the 1st  and the weather was only in the low 80s but coming down from the mountain felt like it was in the 100's.  Whew!  I could have stayed in the shade all day.

It was a high contrast type of day - not my favorite light to take photos in but I like the light in this top photo ...here are a few from that day.  The cactus and succulant gardens are always my favorite area to visit.

SPOTTED TOWHEE

Hey you black orange bird
With those white spots on your wings
Are you a Towhee?

Well, yes I sure am
definitely a towhee
I love attention

Oh I see you now
Keep pointing that camera
Now I'm done posing

WESTERN MALE BLUEBIRD

Perched on snowy branch

In western regions he flies

Males more colorful

HAPPY BIRD

Sun is shining bright.

It's a new year and a good year ...so far ..for six days it has been a good year.   I trust tomorrow the 7th day will be a good year too.   Do you?